Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Patients from the Anesthesia Clinic in Jinshan District, Shanghai, Regarding Visiting the Anesthesia Clinic.

Background: Anesthesia assessment outpatient clinics (AAOCs) can help personalize the anesthesia experience, alleviate anesthesia-related anxiety, and offer health management advice. This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of patients from the anesthesia clinic in Jinshan District, Shanghai, China, regarding AAOCs.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 10, 2023, to October 15, 2023, at Jinshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. The final version of the questionnaire included four dimensions: demographic information, knowledge dimension (seven items, scores 0-7), attitude dimension (six items, scores 6-30), and practice dimension (six items, scores 6-30). The Cronbach's α was 0.935. The risk factors for the practice dimension were examined through univariable and multivariable logistic regression. The relationships among the KAP dimensions were explored using a structural equation model (SEM).

Results: A total of 531 questionnaires were included for analysis. The mean knowledge score was 5.5±1.9 (/7 points, 79.0%). The mean attitude score was 26.3±3.7 (/30, 87.8%). The mean practice score was 25.5±3.4 (/30, 85.0%). However, still over 10% of participants did not recognize AAOCs' ability to alleviate anesthesia-related fears and did not believe AAOCs affect future health management. The knowledge scores correlated to the attitude (r=0.401, P<0.001) and practice (r=0.379, P<0.001) scores, while the attitude scores correlated to the practice scores (r=0.742, P<0.001). The SEM showed that knowledge influenced attitude (β=2.409, P<0.001), while attitude influenced practice (β=0.721, P<0.001). The attitude scores (OR=2.055, 95% CI: 1.756-2.404, P<0.001) and personal/relative/friend experience with AAOCs (OR=2.771, 95% CI: 1.002-7.664, P=0.050) were independently associated with the practice scores.

Conclusion: Patients in Jinshan District had a good KAP toward AAOCs. Improving knowledge of AAOCs should improve attitudes and the use of AAOCs to improve the patient experience and outcomes of anesthesia.